by Lee, R. A.
Folding clothes, vacuuming, and scrubbing the showers, Brooke normally would have put it off, but she was nervous. Busy work settled her and for days she cleaned the house until it was a model home. Finishing, she sat down and wondered what would happen if her plan backfired.
This was now becoming her home every day. It was already home for MJ, but it was slowly going from house to home for her. Although she wanted to make it her home, the transition into her new life was proving more difficult than she thought it would be. Part of her feared that if she fully gave into her new life, she would lose Matthew forever. She wasn’t ready to lose him. She never wanted to lose him.
Sitting in her remodeled living room, Brooke was exhausted.
Selling the townhouse had been another step in her attempt to make peace with her life with Matthew. Thinking it was some sort of victory to buy back the house they had purchased together, Brooke realized there was nothing left but hollow rooms filled with memories that suffocated her.
Even if Jake had run off to be with Jenny, Brooke was going to move on and find a place of her own to start a life of her own. Jake’s indecision had made her decision for her.
When he showed up at her door to tell her he had chosen their fledgling marriage over the chance to get back with his single girlfriend, there was no victory for Brooke. It was just the beginning of another struggle to find a balance between the loves they lost and the life they had to build together.
Bittersweet was the moment Jake fought for her. Standing on her porch, he fought for her as hard as he could. At another time, it would have been a feeble attempt, but Brooke knew he gave it everything he could, which was more than she could have ever hoped.
It was his inner conflict that was still unresolved. Brooke knew she could never fully transition into a commitment with Jake unless she knew he wasn’t longing for another life. She knew Jake would never stop loving Jenny, but as long as he was waiting for his love to change her mind, Brooke would not feel as if she were home.
Sighing, Brooke got up, grabbed her jacket and headed over to MJ’s school. As he rode home beside her on his bike, she told MJ to behave his grandmother while she was gone, then he ran off to play in the backyard.
Walking the path to her mother-in-law’s house, Brooke greeted her at the door, hugged her and told her she’d be back in a week.
Back at the house, Brooke took her suitcase to the car, and hugged and kissed her son.
“Yuck, mom,” he protested and Brooke didn’t want to let him go, but she did.
“Be good,” she said and he ran off.
Sighing, she got in her car, drove to the city, got dressed in the condo, and stared at the painting Jake had chosen from her last exhibition.
Intuitive, Jake knew it was meant for him. He also might have chosen it based on the nameplate. The title of the piece was clearly under the painting. Maybe he subconsciously saw it, or maybe all those years hanging out with Jenny studying and appreciating art had been a master course for him.
Upon seeing the special piece she had made for one person in particular, he knew it was different, that it had a message.
Dressed in a long green and orange gown purchased just for the occasion, Brooke rose and gave herself a mental pep talk.
This has to be done, she told herself.
Shaking her body to release the fear and tension, Brooke took a deep breath and the phone rang. Her car was ready. Picking up the wrapped canvas by the elevator, Brooke pushed the button and waited. The doors whooshed open and she entered.
Standing in the open elevator before pushing the button, Brooke took one last look into Jake’s condo, and the last thing she saw was the painting he had inspired.
Arriving before anyone else, Brooke put the wrapped package behind the reception desk and met with her agent and all the assistants on hand for the evening. Carefully examining the setup, she gave her approval.
Taking her to a bar down the street, her agent was grateful that she had started painting again. Raising their wine glasses, they waited until the exhibit opened, then slowly walked back to the gallery.
A few people flowed in, and Brooke greeted them and mingled. Charming and personable, she was still waiting for the moment that would decide the next chapter in her life with Jake.
A warm familiar hand grazed her shoulder and caressed her neck. Brooke contained herself. It was like the ignition being started on her motor, the first stroke of a masterwork.
Turning, she beamed at him.
“You look lovely,” he said. “I was watching you from across the room.”
Blushing, Brooke smiled. The moment she had been waiting for was about to begin, so she kissed Jake and told him she had to mingle. Stepping away, she went to the far corner of the gallery and greeted and mingled while keeping on eye on Jake.
It had to be a total surprise what she had set up.
Chapter 38
Jake saw Brooke in the center of the room mingling. Walking up to the most talented and interesting woman, he caressed her neck knowing she would have to contain herself. He knew how incredibly she reacted to his softest touch, and delighted in the fact they had an intimate moment in the middle of the gallery.
Busy, Brooke had left and Jake grabbed a glass of wine. He was in her workplace and would have to wait for her workday to be finished before heading to dinner.
Turning, Jake nearly dropped his glass. Standing in the gallery near the door was Jenny. Jake locked eyes with the love of his life. He had never expected to see her again. Unable to move, Jake stood frozen between his wife, the brilliant artist, and his lover, the single and beautiful love of his life.
As he stood there, Jenny walked up to him, but there was a sort of hesitation in her look.
“Hello, darling,” she said.
“Hello, Jenny,” he choked out. Drinking a large portion of his wine, he waited for her to start the conversation.
“Brooke invited me,” she explained. “She said she had something for me.”
Jake had his answer. She had not come for him.
Glancing to his side, he could see Brooke approaching, watching them both carefully.
Holding out her hand, Brooke greeted Jenny as she would have any guest.
“I’m glad you made it,” she said. “I have something for you, I’ll be right back.”
Jake watched as she went to the reception desk.
“Your wife is a very talented woman,” Jenny said, admiring Brooke. “I thought you had married a boring housewife. I am actually jealous,” she confessed.
Still unable to think or say anything, Jake watched Brooke approach, smiling as she made her way through the crowd with a wrapped canvas.
Smiling, she handed the package to Jenny.
“What’s this?” she asked surprised.
“It’s a one of a kind, never to be reproduced present to you,” Brooke beamed. “There’s a certificate and everything.”
Watching Jenny’s reaction, Jake realized he had never seen that expression in his presence before. It was as if she were receiving the most incredible gift of her life. In all the time he had given his love gifts and other pleasures, he had never seen the look of amazement and joy on her face that appeared when Brooke handed her a plain, brown paper, wrapped canvas.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“I will never be able to repay you for everything you have done for me, for us,” Brooke said and Jenny took the package.
“Open it!” Brooke insisted and helped Jenny open the package.
It was the last piece Brooke completed. It was the stand-alone piece meant as a message.
Eyes wide, Jenny almost cried. Jake had never seen Jenny cry, not real tears at least, just the kind to get him to agree to whatever she wanted.
“I love it,” she declared and turned it over. The certificate of authenticity was taped to the back. FOR JENNY was the title of the piece.
Handing the crumpled paper to Jake, Brooke received Jenny’s gracious hug
as Jake made sure the painting didn’t fall out of Jenny’s arm. Tucked like a baby, the art piece was safe in her arms. There was no room for Jake.
“Mingle, have fun,” Brooke encouraged them and walked off to leave them alone.
Jake wasn’t sure what his wife was trying to accomplish. Holding the art piece in her hands, Jenny admired the gift.
“Can you believe this?” she asked rhetorically. “An original Sandstrom just for me.”
“What do you think it symbolizes,” Jake asked.
“Like she said, for all my help,” she shrugged.
“No,” he said puzzled. “What do you think the piece symbolizes? Don’t artists put meaning in their work?”
Looking at the piece carefully, Jenny shrugged.
“It’s subjective,” she shrugged. “It could just be an appreciation, a special thank you.”
For the first time in all the years he had known Jenny, Jake realized she wasn’t as sophisticated as he thought in the beginning.
There was a clear message in the art piece Brooke had made for Jenny.
Unschooled in the ways of artists and symbolism, Jake had learned a lot about art from being with Brooke.
Looking at the piece, Jake finally saw the message.
YOU HAVE TO LET HIM GO.
Smiling, Jake realized Jenny might understand subconsciously someday.
“Let me help you take that to your car,” he said.
Still admiring the piece, Jenny followed Jake to the valet station and they waited for her car to arrive.
“Why didn’t you come to me after the divorce?” Jake asked brazenly.
Startled, Jenny looked up at Jake.
“What do you mean, darling?” she asked.
“I saw that you got divorced,” he shrugged. “I was wondering if you would tell me at some point.”
“We broke up, darling,” she pouted. “I came to your house where you were living with your wife. You gave me an ultimatum.”
“We have broken up many times, Jenny,” he said exasperated. It never changed, their relationship, never evolved. Jake always found himself at this same point with his love and he didn’t want to climb the same stairs again, go down the other side, wait and go back up again. He was getting dizzy and exhausted.
The valet drove up with Jenny’s convertible and opened the trunk. Jenny put the painting carefully in the trunk and the valet closed it firmly.
Standing with the keys, they had three decisions. The valet could take the car away and they could enjoy the party, Jake could get in the car and they could drive somewhere to talk, or Jenny could get in her car and leave Jake with many wonderful memories she could never take away.
“I think I should go,” she stated, looking at the valet.
Jake agreed.
Without looking back, Jenny took the keys and Jake followed her as she got into the driver’s seat. Helping her close the door, Jake stood back with his hands in his pants pockets.
“It’s been fun, darling,” she said. Confusion flitted and shadowed the calm blue oceans of her eyes. “Say good-bye to your wife for me.”
Jake nodded. He contained the desire to say, “I love you, Jenny.” Although he meant it, he did not want there to be any confusion between them. This was where Jake got off the incredible journey they had shared together. He would always long and yearn for the beautiful elegant Jenny, but another journey was about to begin.
Standing back, Jake sighed.
“I had fun, too,” he said.
With one last look, she drove away and Jake watched until the car was just a memory.
It was the closure he needed.
Walking back inside, Jake didn’t seek out Brooke. Leaving a note at the front desk, he walked out and headed to the hotel where they first met.
Chapter 39
When Brooke saw Jake leave with Jenny, her whole body tightened and she breathed slowly through the suffocating tension.
Watching Jake walk back in, she thought he was going to give her good news or bad, but instead he left a note and walked out the door.
Making her way to the front desk, Brooke asked for the note. Casually opening it, there was just a message to meet at the bar where they first met. Some tension left her body, but she knew Jake would not be happy at her action.
Without warning him, she had placed him in a precarious spot between the woman he was committed to and the woman he loved.
Busying herself with mingling and being charming, the evening at the gallery finally drew to a close. As the last guest left, the crew gathered and her agent had received the totals.
The exhibit had almost sold out. It was a success in its own right.
Raising their glasses of champagne, Brooke and staff clinked glasses and drank in celebration. Brooke just wanted to get to the bar where Jake was waiting.
“Thank you for everything,” she said as she grabbed her purse and headed outside. The cold air felt great on her hot body, and it released some of the tension.
Hailing a taxi, she pulled herself and her gown in the car and told the driver where she needed to go.
Staring at the hotel as they pulled up, Brooke wondered what waited for her. The last time she ended up at Jake’s and it led to him making a decision. This seemed to be the place where he finally found the answer to his questions.
He had decided at this bar to marry Brooke, he had decided that they should work on their marriage, and soon she would come to know the answer to this latest issue she had provoked.
Through the lounge, up the elevator and into the bar lounge lobby, Brooke looked for Jake. Sitting with his back to her, hunched and alone, Jake waited. Taking a deep breath, Brooke approached. When she was close enough, she ordered two white wines from the bartender, using her fingers to make it clear. She was not alone.
Lifting her dress, Brooke propped herself on the stool and matched Jake’s posture.
“I’m here,” she announced and he turned to her.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” he asked rhetorically. “You didn’t warn me. Just wanted to see how I would react.”
The bartender placed their drinks in front of them and Brooke took a drink. The champagne had only taken away some of the tension.
“Yes, I did,” she agreed, but she was not proud.
“Why would you do that?” he asked. “What do I have to do?”
Brooke sighed.
“She’s always there, Jake,” Brooke said exhausted. “You were going to keep thinking about her. You will always think about her. I just wanted to be around.”
“Why?” he asked incredulously.
“She has a power over you, Jake,” she explained. “I can’t go into a relationship with you wondering when you would go out to seek her. She left you hanging.”
“I had made peace with that,” he said.
“Really?” she said.
Jake lowered his head.
“What did you feel, Jake?” she asked softly.
“That’s why you did it,” he said, almost angry. “You wanted to know if I still had feelings for her, if I would run off after her.”
“Yes,” Brooke whispered. “If you need to do that, I want you to do it now. You talk about maybe having kids someday. I need to know, Jake, as I’ve said before, I need to know you’re committed and willing to work on our marriage.”
Jake took a long drink of his wine and contemplated her confession.
“I couldn’t do it again,” he confided. “I saw Jenny and I was about to start all over again, and I knew it would always end with us separating and getting back together again. I just couldn’t do it again. There’s no forward movement. That doesn’t mean I don’t love her, I just can’t have a life with her.”
“So you’re alright with settling for me?” she asked, wondering what he meant.
Looking over at her, Jake scrutinized her and winced.
“I’m not settling, Brooke,” he said. “I’m committing. If compromise and shared goals are
settling, then I guess I am,” he said sarcastically.
“It’s not a victory for me, Jake,” she said. Shivering, Brooke realized she had not respected his commitment enough.
“I didn’t do this to win you over,” she explained. “I didn’t do this to make you choose me over Jenny. I did this for you. You had a right to find out why she didn’t come back to you. You were hurt. I could see that. I wanted you to have closure. If that meant risking you’d leave me to be with her, I preferred if you did that now not later.”
Jake gasped. She knew he had realized it was exactly what he had needed. Brooke had seen him, seen his soul and knew what she had to do even if it meant losing him. She would fight for him, but only if she knew he would be there to fight for her.
Standing, Jake wrapped himself around Brooke.
He was ready to fight to keep their marriage alive and moving forward even if a part of him would always yearn for another.
Shaking uncontrollably, Brooke let Jake hug her until she was filled with nothing but warmth.
“Let’s go home,” he whispered.
Brooke wanted nothing more.
Chapter 40
Bringing home flowers, Jake presented them to Brooke.
“What’s the occasion?” she asked puzzled.
“Did you realize it’s our third anniversary?” he asked, putting his briefcase on the counter.
Looking into the air, Brooke seemed startled.
“Three years?” she said incredulously.
“Wait,” she said, realizing it was their first real anniversary as a couple. The flowers weren’t so special anymore. Hugging her, he knew what she was going to say.
“I got you more than flowers,” he reassured her with a kiss to her forehead. “Get dressed, we’re going out.”
Brooke pulled away and glared at him.
“Is that why your mom insisted on a spa day with me?” she asked and Jake kissed her forehead again.
